Patents Examined by Aaron Lembo
  • Patent number: 9567833
    Abstract: A sand control completion system comprises: (A) a first flow rate regulator, wherein the first flow rate regulator is positioned in a first interval of a wellbore, wherein the first flow rate regulator is part of a first sand control assembly; and (B) a second flow rate regulator, wherein the second flow rate regulator is positioned in a second interval of the wellbore, wherein the second flow rate regulator is part of a second sand control assembly, wherein a reservoir fluid is caused or allowed to simultaneously flow through the first and second flow rate regulators into a tubing string, wherein the reservoir fluid is commingled into a single fluid stream within the tubing string. A method of using the sand control completion system to simultaneously produce a reservoir fluid from more than one zone of a subterranean formation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Jannise, Gregory W. Garrison, John C. Gano
  • Patent number: 9562412
    Abstract: Offshore and onshore oil well blowouts can bring serious environmental damages which can cause serious economic loses. Oil wells under blowout conditions can be gushing fluids for months before the well is capped and plugged. Placing a capping device on the top of the well head can be challenged. In this paper it is presented a detachable capping device and a method that will help to control the well, or to plug it. The gushing fluids will be redirect through pipe to a surface vessel where they will be collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventors: Jorge Fernando Carrascal, Liliana Carrascal
  • Patent number: 9556711
    Abstract: A system in some embodiments includes a two-part funnel that guides a first component to engage or connect with a second component of a mineral extraction system. The two-part funnel having a first funnel portion, and a second funnel portion, wherein the second funnel portion is configured to be disposed in at least two positions relative to the position of the first funnel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: One Subsea IP UK Limited
    Inventor: Scott D. Ward
  • Patent number: 9546531
    Abstract: What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kip M. Robichaux, Kenneth G. Caillouet, Terry P. Robichaux
  • Patent number: 9534453
    Abstract: An intervention system and method for control of seabed equipment, including a control umbilical connected to a support vessel or rig via a surface winch; a tether connected to underwater seabed equipment; and an umbilical management system unit coupled between the tether and the control umbilical to couple the support vessel or rig to the seabed equipment. The control umbilical and the tether via the umbilical management system unit provide a communications channel for communicating media, including data, electrical power, hydraulic power and/or chemical treatment fluid, from the support vessel or rig to the seabed equipment. The umbilical management system unit allows for easy deployment and management of the control umbilical and tether and can reel in or pay out the tether and/or the control umbilical under remote control or autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Machin, Jean-Bernard Blamengin, Peter Nellessen
  • Patent number: 9534452
    Abstract: A subsea conduit system comprises a conduit extending between a surface vessel and a subsea support, and a load arrangement connected between a subsea anchor and the conduit at a region of connection which is intermediate the vessel and the subsea support to apply a force on the conduit. The conduit is configured such that the applied force generates axial tension in the conduit between the region of connection and the vessel, and between the region of connection and the subsea support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Magma Global Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Hatton
  • Patent number: 9523259
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a tubular housing assembly having a housing sidewall, an axial bore, and a housing annulus passage extending from the axial bore through the housing sidewall. A tubing hanger is secured to a string of tubing and is selectively landed in the housing assembly. The tubing hanger has a vertical bore in fluid communication with the axial bore. A vertical tree assembly is selectively landed on the housing assembly, the vertical tree assembly having a tree member located axially above the tubing hanger. The tree member has a lateral bore for directing a flow of production fluid from a well. A tree annulus passage extends through a sidewall of the tree member. An external annulus passage extends external of the tree member and the housing assembly and is in fluid communication with the housing annulus passage and the tree annulus passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: David Stewart Christie
  • Patent number: 9518682
    Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, having a plurality of flexible lines such as flexible pipes extending between said floating support and the sea bottom. The flexible lines are supported by respective ones of a plurality of troughs each trough lying between two pipe portions defining a first flexible line portion in a hanging double catenary configuration between the floating support and the trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between the trough and the point of contact of the flexible pipe with the sea bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventor: François Régis Pionetti
  • Patent number: 9511430
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a tubular part includes a carrying body configured to receive an end of the tubular part. In addition, the apparatus includes a cutting assembly disposed in the carrying body. The cutting assembly includes a continuous ring configured to be rotated relative to the carrying body. Further, the apparatus includes a first cutting element pivotally attached to the continuation ring. The first cutting element includes a cutting edge configured to engage and cut the tubular part. Still further, the apparatus includes a first actuator coupled to the first cutting element and configured to pivot the first cutting element between a retracted position and a cutting position. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor configured to measure a position of the first cutting element and a force applied to the first cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: 1 Diamond, LLC
    Inventor: Harald Ramfjord
  • Patent number: 9512678
    Abstract: A system configured to execute an underwater well drilling program in the bed of a body of water has a jack-up having a floating structure and a drilling installation supported on the floating structure; and an auxiliary floating unit connectable selectively to the jack-up to enable transfer of the jack-up over the body of water, even in very shallow water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A
    Inventors: Alessandro Valsecchi, Luigi Lanfranchi
  • Patent number: 9506315
    Abstract: A downhole tool, packer, and method for manufacturing a downhole tool. The downhole tool includes a first sealing element, and a second sealing element spaced axially apart from the first sealing element. The downhole tool also includes a back-up member disposed at least partially around the first sealing element and the second sealing element, and positioned axially therebetween. The back-up member includes one or more anti-swab features that are configured to prevent migration of fluid at least between the first sealing element and the back-up member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TEAM OIL TOOLS, LP
    Inventor: Wayland Dale Connelly
  • Patent number: 9506345
    Abstract: A method of installing a rock bolt is provided. A bolt hole can be formed by applying an insertion force to a drill rod and while the insertion force is being applied, applying a rotational force on the drill rod to rotate the drill rod and bore the bolt hole. A rock bolt can then be installed in the bolt hole by applying an insertion force to the rock bolt to insert the rock bolt into a bolt hole and while the insertion force is applied to the rock bolt, applying a rotational force on the rock bolt to rotate the rock bolt in the bolt hole. As the rotational force being applied to the rock bolt increases, the insertion force applied to the rock bolt can be decreased until no insertion force is being applied and the rock bolt has been torqued to a desired torque amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BRANDT ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LTD.
    Inventors: Travis Vogel, Michael Pletz, Rick Copeland, Dan Bonnet
  • Patent number: 9500301
    Abstract: A stinger extends away from an end of a vessel, and a pipeline passes over the stinger as the pipeline is laid from the vessel. The inclination of the pipeline increases as the pipeline passes along the stinger and after leaving the stinger until the pipeline reaches an inflection point beyond the end of the stinger at which inclination is at a maximum. Inclination of the pipeline thereafter reduces until the pipeline touches down on the seabed. A method of S-laying the pipeline includes providing guides on the stinger that limit lateral movement of the pipeline relative to the stinger and moving the vessel and the stinger during S-laying to an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the stinger is inclined to the path of the pipeline just laid. The vessel and the stinger are rotated about a vertical axis passing through or adjacent to the inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Bianchi, Roberto Bruschi, Diego Lazzarin
  • Patent number: 9500040
    Abstract: A box substructure for a drill rig has a box frame including a medial side oriented towards a space located under a drill floor of the drill rig. A trolley structure is connected to the box frame and protrudes away from the medial side. The trolley structure also has an overhanging end opposite of the medial side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC
    Inventors: Katherine J. Holst, Michael F. Jones, Tyson Andrew Springer, Kristopher Landon Murray Butler, Bradley James Schroeder, Christopher Medland
  • Patent number: 9500046
    Abstract: The riser system of the present invention includes an external production riser for floating structures with interfaces to the dry and subsea wellheads, internal tieback riser with a special lower overshot/slipping connector for elevated temperatures. The seals can be metallic and/or non-metallic dynamic seals. Special centralizing pipe connectors and a special subsea wellhead tubing hanger are also included. This riser system avoids the penalty of pipe within pipe differential thermal growth and the resulting unwanted effects on the floating structure. This is accomplished by allowing an overshot sealing slipping connector to swallow an expanding polished rod as thermal conditions cause pipe elongation axially. When elevated temperatures fall to ambient the opposite occurs as the pipe shrinks axially. Alternatively, a system is possible where a two pipe drilling riser is needed. The internal pipe in this case would be an inner riser rather than a tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: David Cain, William Puccio, Shian Chou
  • Patent number: 9493993
    Abstract: A work string for completing long lateral well bores is assembled using small diameter drill pipe having a nigh make-up torque for a curved section and lateral bore of a well. A larger diameter drill pipe is used in the vertical section of the well to facilitate pushing the small diameter drill pipe through the long lateral bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PTECH DRILLING TUBULARS LLC
    Inventors: Lloyd Murray Dallas, Nels Peter Wickander
  • Patent number: 9482062
    Abstract: A wellbore tool centralizer includes a housing that includes a bore to receive a wellbore tubular; an expandable element radially mounted to the housing; and a fluid pathway that extends through the housing to fluidly connect the bore and the expandable element and expose the expandable element to a fluid pressure sufficient to radially expand the expandable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Shaohua Zhou
  • Patent number: 9475020
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems. The treatment fluid can comprise a water-based fracturing fluid or a waterless liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fracturing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Evolution Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Coli, Eldon Schelske
  • Patent number: 9476272
    Abstract: A non-explosive, down hole, setting tool, system method includes a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a first compressible fluid for applying a first force against hydraulic fluid in contact with one side of a setting piston that is movable in the tool, and a second compressible fluid for applying a second force greater than the first force against the other side of the setting piston. Hydraulic fluid is pumped against one end of the setting piston to overcome the second force and move the setting piston. A reset valve is located in a hydraulic fluid return passageway that is connected between other end of the setting piston and the source of hydraulic fluid. The reset valve can move to selectively block the flow of the hydraulic fluid or allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the fluid return passageway, so that the setting piston can move the setting piston back to its start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Neo Products, LLC.
    Inventors: James V. Carisella, Kevin M. Morrill, Jay M. Lefort
  • Patent number: 9475021
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems. The treatment fluid can comprise a water-based fracturing fluid or a waterless liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fracturing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Evolution Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Coli, Eldon Schelske